Aguero, Balotelli going 'nowhere'

SERGIO Aguero and Mario Balotelli both believe they will be at Manchester City next season. The Argentinian forward said he planned to ignore advice from his father-in-law, Diego Maradona, that he should return to Spain to play for Real Madrid. Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, argued that despite all the anger directed at him by his manager, Roberto Mancini, he did not expect his client to go back to Italy in the summer.

Maradona had told Spanish radio that in his opinion Aguero had "made a mistake" in joining Manchester City last year, adding: "He has to play for Real Madrid."

However, in the wake of a sparkling performance that saw him score twice in the 4-0 rout of West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday that, taken with Manchester United's defeat at Wigan, sparked the title race back to life, Aguero saw no reason to become a galactico.

"No, it is not true I want to leave Manchester," he said. "It never has been true, actually, but newspapers do love to create stories. I am very happy here and I want to continue my career here. I have been lucky enough to have been well received at every club I have played for. It was the same at Independiente and then at Atletico Madrid and now here."

Raiola said that the relationship between Mancini and Balotelli - which seemed to have severed completely during the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal last Sunday when the striker was sent off - was reparable. Mancini had announced at the Emirates Stadium that he expected Balotelli to be sold in the summer and that he doubted he would play for Manchester City again.

However, in the aftermath of Wednesday night's victory, Mancini expressed his surprise that Balotelli had escaped the FA's censure for a dreadful tackle on Arsenal's Alex Song, saying he had anticipated a ban of "six or seven games". However, he added: "If he is available, he can play and he will be ready for the game with Manchester United but I haven't seen or spoken to him since Sunday."

He has, however, spoken to his agent. "There are no problems with the fans, certainly. I went to the stadium with him yesterday and everything was pretty calm," Raiola said. "Mancini told me his words about Mario had been taken out of context but that he had expected him to be banned for a very long time. There has been plenty of tension between them but it is much calmer now. Mancini told me of his hopes for Mario and we ironed out some problems.

"I don't think Manchester City have any intention of selling him. He wants to stay in England because it will be good for his career and, when he does come back to Italy, he will want to leave as a winner."

Raiola added that he would also be meeting Manchester United to discuss the future of Paul Pogba. The club's 19-year-old midfielder, hailed as a new Patrick Vieira, is said to be interested in a move to Juventus. "It is a decision which will affect the rest of his career," Raiola said. "He has got to take his time over it. Manchester United are putting a lot of pressure on him because they want him to renew his contract - but it all depends on what the boy wants."

The victory over West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United's unexpected loss at Wigan is likely to ensure that the derby is not the coronation it was expected to be. As he saw his lead slip away, Mancini argued that if City were within two points of United by the time the Manchester derby kicks off, the road to the title would still be open.

"I had the feeling they were losing because our supporters were giving us the message that Wigan had scored and were urging us on," said Aguero. "It was one of many happy things, but it is important now to go to Norwich and win. Football is strange but we have to go down our road and concentrate on that. When United come here, then we'll see."